Verbena plant named ‘Doverbvooburgsta’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Doverbvooburgsta’, characterized by its mounding to semi-trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large star-patterned red purple and light pink bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Verbena x hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOVERBVOOBURGSTA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena x hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Doverbvooburgsta’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous and early-flowering Verbenaplants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Verbena plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of aproprietary selection of Verbena x hybrida identified as code numberVV02-001928-001, not patented. The new Verbena plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a populationof plants of the mutation parent selection in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Verbenaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Doverbvooburgsta’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doverbvooburgsta’ as a newand distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Mounding to semi-trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large star-patterned red purple and light pink bi-colored        flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the mutationparent selection in flower color as plants of the new Verbena have redpurple and light pink bi-colored flowers whereas plants of the mutationparent selection have red and white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena xhybrida ‘Empress Flair Burgundy’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of‘Empress Flair Burgundy’ in flower color as plants of the new Verbenahave red purple and light pink bi-colored flowers whereas plants of‘Empress Flair Burgundy’ have solid red purple-colored flowers. Inaddition, plants of the new Verbena have thicker lateral branches thanplants of ‘Empress Flair Burgundy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Verbena plant. The photograph (FIG. 1) is a top perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Doverbvooburgsta’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 13-cm containers during the springin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Verbena production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 1,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were twelve weeks old when the photographs andthe description were taken. In the description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena X hybrida ‘Doverbvooburgsta’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary    selection of Verbena x hybrida identified as code number    VV02-001928-001, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Mounding to semi-trailing plant habit; freely            branching habit with about six primary lateral branches each            with about six to eight secondary lateral branches; pinching            enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 20 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to            143B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Lobed; sinuses medium in depth and divergent.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, coarse;            semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, coarse; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 139C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 139B; venation, close to 138C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to 142B. Color, lower surface: Close to 142C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in            hemispherical terminal umbels; umbels dense and mounding;            numerous umbels per plant; flowers face upward or outwardly            depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit            with about twelve flowers per inflorescence and numerous            inflorescences per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            the spring through the fall in Germany; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Oval to tubular. Texture and luster: Rippled; matte.            Color: Close to 143B.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform, five-parted fused corolla.            Diameter: About 2.3 cm. Depth: About 2.6 cm. Throat            diameter: About 1.5 mm. Tube length: About 2.1 cm. Tube            diameter: About 1 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals.            Petal lobe length: About 3.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About            1 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex:            Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat            texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when            opening, upper surface: Star-shaped bi-colored pattern,            close to 59A to 59B and 56D. Petal lobe, when opening, lower            surface: Star-shaped bi-colored pattern, close to 64A and            155D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Star-shaped            bi-colored pattern, close to 59A and 55D; venation, similar            to lamina; colors becoming closer to 93A and 55D with            development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface:            Star-shaped bi-colored pattern, close to 59B and 56D;            venation, similar to lamina; colors becoming closer to 90A            and 56D with development. Throat: Close to 142D; venation,            close to 142D. Tube: Close to 142D; venation, close to 142D.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Tubular calyx with five fused sepals.            Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm. Sepal length:            About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape:            Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent, coarse;            semi-glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface:            Pubescent, coarse; matte. Sepal color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A and 145A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and            luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            About four to five per flower, adnate to corolla tube.            Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C.            Anther length: About 0.9 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther            color: Close to 150B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 2C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 2.1 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style            color: Close to 144D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted; fimbriate. Stigma color: Close to 143A.            Ovary color: Close to 144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per            plant: About 50 during the flowering season. Length: About            5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: Close to            199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About            4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 199B.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to    have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Verbena have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Verbena plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named‘Doverbvooburgsta’ as illustrated and described.